WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.399 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:20.000 Well, good morning, Awakening. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:21.519 Great to be with you. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:23.679 Welcome to 2026. 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:24.399 You made it. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:25.359 You're a year. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:26.160 You did it. 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:27.199 Way to go. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:28.320 I'm proud of you. 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:28.960 Brave. 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:31.519 Us Californians, we're weather wimps. 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:33.520 You braved the storm. 00:00:34.479 --> 00:00:37.119 Um Happy New Year. 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:37.920 Happy New Year. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:38.640 Happy New Year. 00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:40.000 Try that one more time. 00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:42.159 That was decent, but it's a new year. 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:42.640 Come on. 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:43.759 Happy New Year. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:44.560 Happy New Year. 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:45.359 Thanks. 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:46.159 Thanks. 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:49.119 I love New Year's, by the way. 00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:51.280 I love new months. 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:52.560 I love new weeks. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:54.640 I yes, I love Mondays. 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:55.119 I know. 00:00:55.280 --> 00:00:55.920 I too. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:00.079 I love new beginnings, a fresh start. 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:01.920 I love mornings. 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:04.640 And here's part of the reason why. 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:11.920 And yeah, I love mornings to the extent I'm up really early, and then if you meet me at 8 a.m., I'm that guy that's got like, hey, how are you doing? 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:13.680 You're like, chill, okay? 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:16.560 But here's part of the reason why. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:26.239 Like, when you woke up this morning, you didn't just wake up to an ordinary day. 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:34.239 Scripture tells us that God's mercy meets us every single morning. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:39.359 You woke up to new morning mercy today. 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:40.719 Isn't that good? 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:41.840 Come on. 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:44.560 Like, this is the most amazing thing. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:51.200 I love these new beginnings because we have a God who's about new beginnings. 00:01:51.519 --> 00:02:04.239 We have a God who specializes, by the way, in turning things that are old into something new, taking what is dead and bringing it to life, taking graves and turning them into gardens. 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:07.439 This is what God is all about. 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:16.080 In fact, Jesus says it this way: Behold, I am making all things new. 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:23.280 So, whether you are or not a New Year's person, I love New Year's and we are at a New Year 2026. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:24.560 Let me ask you this. 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:29.840 What will you do with your fresh start? 00:02:30.159 --> 00:02:31.919 What will we do with your fresh start? 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:38.560 I've been telling some of my kids lately, just one of my favorite quotes, and one of my favorite quotes is simply this. 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:47.439 Though you cannot go back and have a brand new start, you can start today and have a brand new end. 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:55.439 Though you cannot go back and have a brand new start, and that's what some of us feel like, oh, 2025, or oh, the last 25 years, all this. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:59.840 But you can start today and have a brand new end. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:01.599 We live in a world, don't we? 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:03.520 That's kind of pessimistic. 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:08.879 It's um, yeah, don't dream you'll be disappointed. 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:11.280 Don't make New Year's resolutions. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:13.439 Why, well, you're just gonna quit them. 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:15.599 You're like, yeah, already day four, Ryan, I'm done. 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:23.840 I made it two days and okay, but you can start now and have a brand new end. 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:27.199 What will you do with your fresh start? 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:30.000 Is it just more of the same? 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:32.240 Or do you want something different? 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:38.479 You want something different in your life, in your relationship, in your faith, in your future? 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:47.840 If you want to see something different this year, experience a fresh start, we need to begin by asking this question. 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:51.599 What are you really living for? 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:54.080 What are you really living for? 00:03:54.319 --> 00:04:07.439 Not what you say you're living for, not what you virtue signal online that you want others to live for, your performative self that you're proving to everyone else, but what are you really living for? 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:09.199 And to discover that is pretty simple. 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:18.560 You just need to look at really basically three areas where you're spending your time, your money, and what has your attention. 00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:21.279 What you give your energy to. 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:29.439 If you look at your bank account, if you look at your phone, you begin to see what you're really living for. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:34.560 Another way to say it is simply this what's most important? 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:47.360 If we're going to see and experience life change, see real growth this year, we have to get clear on what's most important and begin to organize our life around that. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:54.720 Is there one thing, think about this, 2026, is there one thing that you can build your life upon? 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:57.279 Organize your life around? 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:07.759 Is there something that will guide your dating, guide your friending, guide your working, your parenting, your Mondays, your Tuesdays, your Wednesdays, not just your Sundays? 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:10.079 Think about this. 00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:17.199 If you could ask this question of Jesus, what is most important? 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:20.000 What would he say? 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:23.279 What would he say to you? 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:26.000 Title of the sermon today is most important. 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:27.279 Would you say that with me? 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:30.319 Try that again. 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:37.279 If you got your Bibles, would you turn to Mark chapter 12, verse 28? 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:42.319 One occasion Jesus is being challenged by some religious leaders. 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:47.600 They're trying to trap him, uh, get him to stumble in some things that he says. 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:53.199 And one of the experts in the law notices that Jesus is answering incredibly well. 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:57.360 And so we pick it up here in Mark 12, verse 27. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:01.199 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:08.720 Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked them, of all the commandments, which is the help me out. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:11.040 Oh, you're great. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:11.600 Good job. 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:12.240 Fantastic. 00:06:12.399 --> 00:06:13.519 Which is the most important? 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:19.439 No, uh in the Old Testament, the Hebrew scriptures, there's 613 laws. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:23.439 Which of the 600 of 13 laws is the most important? 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:28.639 These are the laws upon which the Jewish people organize their entire lives around. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:34.399 Now, the experts of the law, the religious people of their day, they weren't like, you know, content with just 613. 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:36.879 They wanted to like define those even further. 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:42.959 And so they took painstakingly time of like going into the minutia of every single law. 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:49.839 So it created not just 613, it really created thousands of laws for the people to try to uphold. 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:51.680 Which of these is most important? 00:06:51.920 --> 00:07:05.600 And at the same time, as they would go through this whole process of expounding upon all of these laws, they then began to ask also, like, how do we define, is there one of these commands that is most important that we can center our lives? 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:08.800 Can we sum up everything in a single sentence? 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:14.560 And this was the conversation of the day, because it was so hard to keep all of that in front of you. 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:28.000 And Jesus answers, the most important one, Jesus answered, is hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:39.439 The most important one, and he begins with what every Jewish person would have recited that morning, is the very first prayer that a child learns in the Jewish culture. 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:40.480 It's called the Shema. 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:43.759 He begins with the Shema, it's found in Deuteronomy chapter six. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:50.879 Hero, Israel, and Shema just means to hear, it's the imperative word in the he in Hebrew, hear, it's the very first word of this. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:54.319 And they would recite this daily in the morning and at night. 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:57.839 He says, Hero Israel, the Lord our God is one. 00:07:57.920 --> 00:07:58.800 And it goes on. 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:07.040 Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind, and with all of your strength. 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:11.199 You want to distill down life into what is most important. 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:13.040 It begins right here. 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:14.639 Listen up, don't miss this. 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:17.199 Hero Israel, Hero Awakening. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:22.560 There is one God and love him with all of your heart. 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:25.439 Not some of it. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:28.319 Not part of it. 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:32.639 We're half-hearted creatures, aren't we? 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:35.919 We give our lives and energy and time to so many things. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:37.360 We're stretched in so many ways. 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:40.720 We find ourselves running and barely able to keep up. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:48.399 And we feel the spinning and the turning of our culture and the trend of like, I just got to keep up with the people around me. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:51.679 And we lose sight, don't we, of what matters most? 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:55.279 We lose sight of the things that matter most. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:09:00.639 And we look, we maybe you've had this where you look back on 2025 and you're like, what in the world? 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:01.919 It was just a blur. 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:03.360 What was that all about? 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:10.159 Or maybe you had a crisis and you began to evaluate how you're spending your time, your energy, and your money. 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:16.320 You're like, wait a second, am I really living for what's most important? 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:19.759 And then Jesus does something to the Shema. 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:22.960 He adds to it. 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:27.200 He adds this scripture out of Leviticus. 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:33.759 And up to this point, see, we're so familiar with this, we take this as ordinary, as like, of course. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:40.320 No one had ever done this, had united these two commands together. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:45.360 In Leviticus, he says, the second is like it. 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:49.200 In other scriptures, it will say these two are intricately connected. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:51.279 You can't separate them. 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:56.080 Love your neighbor as you love yourself. 00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:02.480 There is no commandment greater than these. 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:15.519 He took the old law, filled it with new meaning, and so doing created a new creed, a new way to be human. 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:27.279 Now, what was interesting of what he did with Leviticus 19 here is in the context, this love your neighbor was intrinsically, it was already a part just other Jewish people. 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:32.799 And especially in that day, they had a special hatred for Gentiles. 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:40.720 And he augmented and cut it out so that it expanded love for all people, not just the people you deem worthy to be loved. 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:56.399 And what Jesus is saying here is what matters most is a whole life devotion and love to God that expresses itself in a way that is loving to every person on the planet. 00:10:57.759 --> 00:11:06.320 Because there's a form of religion, there's a form of way we can think about knowing God, of like, I can be good with God, but I'm not good with you. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:08.399 And Jesus says, that doesn't cut it. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:10.639 That is not it. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:12.559 That's not what's most important. 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:16.320 Now, what's interesting is the teacher of the law, he's beginning to get it. 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:17.600 He says, Well said. 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:21.840 And he says, You're right in saying that God is one and there's no other but him. 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:26.240 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and and and he's getting it. 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:32.399 He's like, uh, and to love yourself uh neighbor as yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:37.919 That was the centering organizing factor for the Jewish people was offerings and sacrifices. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:40.559 As long as you're doing that, you're doing what's most important. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:43.759 He's going, like, ah, I'm starting to get it, Jesus. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:45.600 And Jesus sees that he's beginning to get it. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:48.879 And when Jesus saw that he'd answered wisely, he said this. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:50.080 I love this line. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:52.960 You're not far from the kingdom of God. 00:11:53.679 --> 00:11:55.919 You're not far from the kingdom of God. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:57.679 Like you're starting to get it. 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:02.000 I think there's some of you in this room right now, you're not far from the kingdom of God. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:10.080 Like you've been going about this kind of church thing, but you've never really centered your life on Jesus. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:16.960 Or maybe it's the very first time you're here and you're starting to discover like more of life. 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:19.279 There's more to life. 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:25.840 And Jesus would look at you and go, Oh, you're not far from the kingdom of God. 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:27.600 What is most important? 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:35.120 Is there one thing to build your life upon, organize your life around, that'll guide your dating, your friending, your working, your parenting? 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:40.720 Not just your Sundays, but your Mondays and Tuesdays and Wednesdays is simply this. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:46.320 Love God, love others, nothing matters more. 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:48.480 Can you say that with me? 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:53.759 Love God, love others, nothing matters more. 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:58.480 It's not just a like bumper sticker slogan here. 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:01.600 You're like, yeah, yeah, love God, love others, that's cool. 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:03.360 No, no, you don't get it. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:06.720 Nothing matters more. 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:23.840 If you're gonna do anything this year, 2026, love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, everything, wholehearted devotion, and then have it expressed in the way we treat and love others. 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:25.039 I like how N.T. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:28.080 Wright in his commentary on this talks about this. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:29.440 He writes this. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:51.519 He says, the Jewish law begins with worship, with the love of God, because if it's true that we're made in the image of God, we will find our fullest meaning, our true selves, the more we learn to love and worship we're designed to reflect. 00:13:52.240 --> 00:14:00.000 Friends, we got a whole generation, a whole people trying to find their most authentic, truest self. 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:02.159 Be your true you. 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:05.679 And then you're like, oh, what's the new you for the new year? 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:11.360 Hello! Love God, and as you do that, you'll find who you truly are. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:13.679 Because you're made to reflect him. 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:16.320 The Shema. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:21.519 Jesus says, This love the Lord your God. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:23.200 Many of us have heard this. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:29.919 But I want to suggest we haven't heard it in the sense that Jesus intended. 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:38.960 Because when we hear this, love God, love others, it almost feels like, ah, this is good advice, right? 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:41.440 Ah, that's nice. 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:43.600 Take it. 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:52.000 Until life gets hard, or I find a circumstance, uh, you know, it's too busy to do this, um, uh, the workload is really intense. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:54.080 That coworker is a jerk. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:57.039 Loving him or her is not possible at this moment. 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:58.480 They stab me in the back. 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:00.080 We take it as good advice. 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:06.720 Here's what's Jesus saying this is a new way of living, a new vision for being a human. 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:13.519 Now, when he talks about this immediately in the people's minds, they go back to the full prayer of the Shema. 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:17.919 Shema, like I said, just means to listen, to hear, to pay attention. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:21.200 In Hebrew, hearing is not passive. 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:27.279 You hear me, but you might go out and go like, well, I heard that, but I didn't do anything with it. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:33.279 The sho to Shema God is to listen, receive, and respond with obedience. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:41.519 It is not just about knowing who God is, it is about ordering your entire life around him. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:48.639 Deuteronomy 6, I want to go back because what I want you to see is what comes after this part that Jesus talks about. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:55.600 That is not just what we're called to do, but you'll see this formational process that we're invited into. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:58.000 Hero Israel, the Lord your God is one. 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:01.120 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:08.639 These commands I give to you today are to be on your hearts, like written on your heart. 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:11.120 And then notice what comes after that. 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:13.600 It says, impress them on your children. 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:18.080 Parents, don't outsource your kids' spirituality. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:22.320 One, we have an incredible kids' ministry led by Ashley and others. 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:23.840 We're so excited for that. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:27.759 They're getting loved and served and taught so well right now. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:37.840 And our goal is to come alongside you as parents to help equip you to disciple your kids, impress them upon your kids. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:44.399 Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up, talk about them. 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:49.279 It should be a part, like if you really love someone, you just talk about them. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:51.440 Have you ever been in love? 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:55.200 Most of you haven't, obviously. 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:55.600 Okay. 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:58.000 Oh, I don't know, I don't know. 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:05.119 You remember like those early days of like just that like infatuation, that puppy love? 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:07.599 You run into somebody like this, right? 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:11.680 They're like, they just can't stop talking about their person. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:15.680 Oh, she's amazing, she's the best, she's the greatest. 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:18.799 Eventually you just become nauseated, talk about something else. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:22.160 I can't, I'm in love, and I want everybody to know. 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:23.279 Right? 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:30.640 Because you just can't help but talk about the one you love. 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:38.160 Because it just flows out of your conversation because they're the most important. 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:40.640 You know, it's interesting. 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:50.640 I was hanging out with my daughter uh yesterday, and we were at um, we were at coffee, and she had her Bible, and we're talking, and then she began to tell me about her Bible. 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:55.039 She just got back from a study abroad in France, and uh all her friends they didn't know Jesus. 00:17:55.200 --> 00:18:02.480 In fact, some were pretty anti-Jesus and the ways of Jesus, and she just was this beautiful beacon of light, like winsome in the way she talked about Jesus. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:07.359 We'd have these incredible conversations of like, Dad, how do I respond to this and some of these sort of things? 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:18.319 But here's the like one of the most coolest affirmations, like her friends are like, you know, we don't believe what you believe, but the way you loved us, we don't feel judged by you at all. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:22.079 She was strong in her convictions and love for them. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:30.319 And she took with her by with her, you know, she's in school there, but she brought her Bible everywhere she went because it became this kind of conversation piece. 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:37.839 And um, she had her Bible and she just began to put in it the memories along the way, the special moments. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:43.119 And so, you know, they'd go do a photo booth uh with her friends and she would put it in her Bible. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:47.440 Um, one friend didn't know Jesus, she's like, This is so important. 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:49.200 Can I have your Bible to read? 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:52.720 Her friend took her Bible for a whole week to read her Bible. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:58.640 Another friend, by the end of the time, simply said, Hey, you know what? 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:00.720 Um, could I be added to your Bible? 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:08.079 Because she had, I mean, her Bible's like got all these sheets of paper in it, you know, of memories and moments that are connected. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:14.720 A friend like was the most anti-Jesus, anti-God friend is like, I want to be in your Bible, Ella. 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:16.720 Like, because why? 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:23.759 She loves God and is not ashamed, just like, here's who I am, and and other people are like, man, I'm drawn to that. 00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:29.039 You just walk along, you sit at home, you talk about them. 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:34.000 Tie them as symbols around your hand and bind them. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:37.839 Uh, Jewish people still do this, devout Jewish people still do this today. 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:46.480 They tie a small leather box called the Teflon containing handwritten passages of the scriptures around their arm or hand, devotion expressed through action. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:47.359 What do I do? 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:51.599 On their forehead, devotion expressed through thought, what I think. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:54.000 Now, I gotta be careful here. 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:59.599 I am not promoting tattoos, but I do have a couple. 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:02.480 Um, and I have one on purpose. 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:04.640 I have a cross right here. 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:12.960 And part of it is for me as a daily reminder of he's my Lord and Savior. 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:19.359 I want to keep that before me of my hands and what I put my work to and what I uh will not do. 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:24.799 Now, kids, don't tell your moms that your pastor told you to get a tattoo. 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:25.680 That's not what I said. 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:29.599 I think this generation is doing this amazing, by the way. 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:31.440 Gen Z is incredible. 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:37.359 In fact, they're wearing clothing so bold in their faith that Jesus saves the essentials, clothing, fear of God. 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:49.200 There's so many clothing items out there where I'm just watching, we were in Santa Cruz uh last week, and we see this young girl walk into there in Santa Cruz, so anti-Jesus is where I grew up, and I love it. 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.559 It's funky, it's weird. 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:54.000 Uh, and she just walks in and got a full-on scripture. 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:54.880 Why? 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:57.359 Because Jesus saved her. 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:59.680 She loves God with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:05.200 She can't help but talk about them, write them on the door frames of your houses and your gates. 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:05.839 No. 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:12.400 This is not just a Sunday thing. 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:15.440 This is a way of life thing. 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:17.839 Why does all this matter? 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:27.359 All this instruction, these it wasn't just like, oh, these are I came to church and I heard this, but I'm incorporating it into every aspect of my life. 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:29.599 Because you know this. 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:30.880 We know this. 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:34.319 Whatever has your focus is forming you. 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:39.279 Whatever has your attention is shaping you. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:49.680 Whatever you give your focus, your attention is turning you into who you'll become. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:53.359 See, nobody ever drifts into a better version of themselves. 00:21:53.839 --> 00:22:07.279 Nobody just wakes up at the end of 2025, now in the beginning of 2026, and drifts into A more Christ-like person just woke up and I just woke up, I'm more loving, I'm more peaceful, I'm more kind, I have more. 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:08.880 Nobody drifts into that. 00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:13.200 It takes a devotion and a focus and a vision. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:17.839 And so what I want to do with the remainder of our time is give us an action plan. 00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:19.920 I want to be really practical. 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:25.920 I don't want to just give a sermon and for some people to be stirred, but to walk out and do nothing. 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:27.599 I want us to hear. 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:29.200 I want us to shema. 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:35.200 Not just hear and go on our way, hear and act and respond. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.799 So let me ask you this. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:42.960 Who or what is at the center of your life? 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:54.240 I want you to take these notes and use them this week as a process and as a guide. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:57.119 Wrestle with that question. 00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:59.119 Who or what is at the center of my life? 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:03.599 Remember, your time, your attention, where you spend your money and energy? 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:05.440 Is it your work? 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:06.720 Is it your family? 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:08.880 Is it your ambition? 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:11.599 Is it other people's approval? 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:14.960 Who or what is at the center of your life? 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:22.480 If we're going to organize our lives around what Jesus says is most important, step one is we must clarify our focus. 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:26.480 We must clarify our focus. 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:28.400 What has your focus? 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:30.640 What has your attention? 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:38.000 One of the practices we've done at awakening for years and bringing back is just a tool that helps you do this. 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:40.480 The first is it's just two questions. 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:42.319 I want you to wrestle with these this week. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:47.440 First question is what do one word would you use to describe 2025? 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.599 Look back last year. 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:58.240 There's things to grieve, there's things to celebrate, and as you do that and you track through it, look for a theme. 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:02.640 Okay, try to find a singular word. 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:05.200 That really sums up last year. 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:07.519 You can use a hyphen if needed. 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:11.839 But what one word would you use to describe 2025? 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:14.160 Look back and then look forward this year. 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:19.440 What one word do you hope will describe 2026? 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:28.319 Now, with this word, uh I I want us to not like choose performative words, um, accomplishment words. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.920 I want to be, I want to do. 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:37.359 Think about who you want to become in 2026. 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:43.920 Think about what you long for God to form in you in 2026. 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:48.880 Obviously, I've been thinking about this for a long time and praying for awakening. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:50.799 What is our word for 2026? 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.480 And it's actually my word personally. 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:57.839 And if you're like, you know what, I'm not real good with the whole vision stuff, you you can still this word. 00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:59.599 You can have it, you can borrow it, it can be our word. 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:02.480 We can we we can have a word together, we can have our word, right? 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:06.559 Awakening's word for 2026 is pursue. 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.960 It's pursue. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:16.559 The question that I've been wrestling with is what does it look like to passionately pursue the heart of God? 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:24.240 Like one of my prayers for so long, even as a little kid, is God, would you make me a man after your heart? 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:26.880 Like I long to be that kind of person. 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:32.960 I, in a world of half-hearted devotion, would you make me a whole-hearted man after you? 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:34.400 I long for that. 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:40.559 Would you make my heart beat for the things that your heartbeat may break for the things that it breaks your heart? 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.839 And I want more of that. 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:44.000 And I'm not there yet. 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:54.880 In fact, what would happen if a church passionately pursued the heart of God together? 00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:59.519 Just imagine. 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:08.079 If we said for this year, which is really, I mean, I think what the church, what we should be every year. 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:12.799 There's a lot of things that are gonna happen. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:36.079 I don't know about the economy, and I don't know about politics, and I don't know about, you know, the future and all these other things, but here's what I do know is I want to be a person that is running after the heart of God with a community that says, let's get after it, and let's see what God might want to do with a people whose hearts are fully for and his, fully for him and all his. 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:42.799 Step one. 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:45.200 Would you clarify? 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:46.480 Focus. 00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:56.720 Now, the interesting part, and you know this, um we don't grow because of good intentions, we grow because of the level of our commitments. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:08.640 How many of us have had good intentions at the beginning of the new year, and then we look back and go, oh, I didn't end up there, I didn't end up where I was. 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:10.880 I mean, that's what the whole Shema is. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:15.759 It's it's outlining a commitment, a way of living. 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:21.839 You're gonna mess up, we're gonna mess up, I'm gonna mess up. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:30.720 There's gonna be days where I didn't run after the heart of God, there's gonna be weeks where I drifted, there's gonna be weeks where you're gonna, and you go, like, you know, I'm returning to my commitments. 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:34.480 Think about this, okay. 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:43.759 Um, if you want to get stronger, one, you need to lift heavy things and eat a lot of protein. 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:46.559 Way more protein than I can't do that. 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:47.119 I've tried. 00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:48.880 I'm working on it, but I can't. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:51.680 Uh, but if you want to get stronger, those are two things you need to do. 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:59.200 If you want to have a great marriage, Jen and I just celebrated 23 years of marriage in December. 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.559 Yeah, thank you. 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:16.480 A great marriage began with a great commitment, standing before the altar, before God and these witnesses, till death do us part, come hell or high water, uh, you know, in sickness and in health. 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:19.279 I am yours, I'm all in. 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:31.119 And so for every season of life, because on the sunny days it's great, and we've had lots of those, and on the stormy days, you go, you know what, there is no eject button, there is no back door. 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:34.240 We are gonna work through it together. 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:35.119 Why? 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:39.839 Because you grow to the level of your commitment. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:44.720 For some, this is this is you this morning. 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:48.960 I just talked with a young man after our service. 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:56.799 He said that you were just speaking right to me, and I feel like I've been that person that's been one foot in with Jesus. 00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:59.599 I've grown up in the church, he was from Santa Cruz as well. 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.559 I'm like, awesome. 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:06.079 Uh one foot in, and today I'm gonna be both feet in. 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.640 How about you? 00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:18.319 What would you say today? 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:25.279 January 4th, 2026, I'm all in. 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:30.000 Jesus, you're the leader of my life. 00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:32.960 I am following you. 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:37.279 This year, I give you everything. 00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:47.279 It's a decision you will never regret, but and if you do not make it, this Christian life will never make sense. 00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:51.039 So let me ask you. 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:58.400 What are the rhythms shaping your heart, your mind, your desires? 00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:00.480 What are the rhythms? 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.279 What are the habits? 00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:05.039 What are the patterns of your life that are forming you? 00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:13.279 What are the commitments you need to become more and more like Jesus? 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:14.799 Step one, clarify your focus. 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:19.119 Step two, activate daily formation. 00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:20.960 Activate it. 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:26.000 One of the things you're gonna hear a lot this year is our discipleship pathway. 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:29.599 I'm gonna explain it in more detail in week three. 00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:31.920 But come to know Jesus. 00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:34.319 Come to know him personally. 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:40.400 Come to know him where you say, you're the rescuer, you're the leader of my life. 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:44.400 Grow, make a decision that I'm gonna grow as a disciple of Jesus. 00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:52.640 I'm gonna begin to serve in the name of Jesus, like the Holy Spirit has deposited spiritual gifts inside of you to bless you and build up his church. 00:30:52.720 --> 00:31:03.440 And then I'm gonna share the love of Jesus because he's given you and trusted the ministry of reconciliation to bring those who are far from God, close to God, through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:14.960 And we go, this is the pathway and the process, but we need to activate daily formation, not just a day, not a Sunday kind of faith. 00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:20.799 And so I want to give us one formation practice, just one. 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.160 Just one. 00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:23.359 Can we do just one? 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:24.400 Yeah? 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:25.680 Okay, one practice. 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.720 Here we go. 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:32.319 Let God have the first word and the last word of your day. 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:36.400 Let God have the first word. 00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:43.200 The Shema was the very first thing a Jewish person when they woke up in the morning would recite and pray. 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:50.720 The Shema was the last thing at night a Jewish person would pray before they go to bed. 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:55.200 Let God have the first word and the last word of your day. 00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:59.279 You know what gets the first word and the last word of our day all the time? 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:05.279 Wake up, often it's our alarms that wake us up, and then we use the bathroom. 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:10.400 By the way, um, we would have spent far less time in the bathroom if we didn't have phones. 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:12.400 That's a sermon for another day. 00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:19.680 Um but this often gets the first word, doesn't it? 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:24.240 No wonder we're filled with anxiety, stressed out, hurried. 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:26.240 Our souls are rushed. 00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:32.400 This often gets the last word as we scroll before we go to bed, or we watch Netflix. 00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:34.079 I watch Bobby Flay before bed. 00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:35.759 That's my true confession. 00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:43.200 I've been doing this last week, um reciting this in the morning. 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:48.240 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and all your strength. 00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:50.240 Love your neighbor as yourself. 00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:52.960 And then as I go to bed, I'm just reciting it. 00:32:53.200 --> 00:33:00.720 Again, it's starting to reshape how I sleep and how I live. 00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:03.039 So here's what we're doing in 2026. 00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:06.160 This is, I like, we're gonna, I'm going old school honest. 00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:07.920 We're having memory verses. 00:33:08.640 --> 00:33:11.039 All right, you and we're gonna have memory verses. 00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:12.960 This is our first memory verse. 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:15.680 Uh Mark 12, 29 through 31. 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:18.559 We're gonna have this memory verse for two weeks, okay? 00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:24.319 I want you to recite it in the morning, and then I want you to recite it at night. 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:26.640 That you put this in your heart. 00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:30.319 One of the ways that we're gonna do this tomorrow, we're gonna post on Instagram. 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:34.079 I'm not like totally anti-social media, it just can't control our lives. 00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:40.480 But what I what we're gonna do is we're gonna post a graphic with this so that you can make this. 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.599 How good is this? 00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:44.880 You can make it your locked home screen. 00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:46.960 That's my wife, by the way. 00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:52.799 So every time you pick up your phone, you're reminded of what's most important. 00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:58.160 Every time you some people pick up their phone over a hundred times a day on average. 00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:01.920 You can be reminded of what's most important a hundred times a day. 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:02.880 Isn't that great? 00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:06.880 Let's start using this thing for like a tool of formation for good. 00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:11.440 Yes! All right, all right, just calm down, Ingram. 00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.400 Let's finish up. 00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:14.719 All right, step one, clarify the focus. 00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:16.880 Step two, activate daily formation. 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:18.159 You gotta do something. 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.840 Memorize scripture. 00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:22.719 Begin and end the day. 00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:25.679 Let him get the first and the last word. 00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:28.480 Step three, pursue God with others. 00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:36.880 The Christian life is not impossible on your own, or is it not difficult on your own, it's impossible. 00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:42.159 Somewhere along the way, we believe that we can do this on our own. 00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:46.960 It's my spiritual life, and I don't even need church or people, and I'm gonna do my thing. 00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:48.239 That's a lie. 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:51.199 Because Jesus connected those. 00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:53.440 Love God, love others. 00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:55.360 You need others to love. 00:34:57.679 --> 00:34:58.400 Two questions. 00:34:58.559 --> 00:35:00.000 Once you wrestle with these. 00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:03.360 What are the people you need? 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:09.679 Maybe it's friends, mentors, spiritual encouragers? 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:19.199 For some, you're looking for a friend, and it could be a person that is most unlikely that maybe even annoyed you at the beginning, but now they might become your best friend. 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:21.039 Maybe you need a spiritual mentor. 00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:23.599 There's wonderful mentors here in our community. 00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:27.440 Go around, just ask them out for coffee and bring a list of questions. 00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:29.119 Maybe you need a spiritual encourager. 00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:34.559 Who are the people you need in your life to help you pursue the heart of God? 00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:37.360 And then, who needs you? 00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:44.159 We get so focused, don't we, on just like, oh, it's all about me and I want my needs. 00:35:44.320 --> 00:35:46.880 No, you give, like, who needs you? 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:52.719 This is one of the reasons we kind of opt out of small groups at times, is because there is that person there. 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:59.440 We sometimes call them EGR, extra grace required people, you know, and we're like, oh, I don't know. 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:02.480 They take a lot out of me because they need you. 00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:11.119 There's some people that need your presence, your voice, your heart, your life, and we need both in our life. 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:13.119 Focus daily. 00:36:14.239 --> 00:36:23.360 Clarify your focus daily, activate formation, and then pursue God with others. 00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:28.000 Though you cannot go back and have a brand new start. 00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:32.800 You can start today and have a brand new end. 00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:36.960 What's most important 2026? 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:38.800 Love God. 00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:40.960 Love others. 00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:43.519 Nothing. 00:36:44.320 --> 00:36:45.119 Matters more. 00:36:46.639 --> 00:36:49.840 Don't just hear this sermon. 00:36:52.159 --> 00:36:54.719 Take your next step. 00:36:55.039 --> 00:36:56.880 Jesus, thanks for my friends. 00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:58.559 Thanks for this time. 00:36:58.960 --> 00:37:04.480 Thank you for new years that remind us that you're a God of new beginnings and fresh starts. 00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:11.840 And I pray for the person right now that feels like they've had so many fresh starts they feel ashamed to even come back again. 00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:14.800 And you're the God that says, welcome home. 00:37:15.119 --> 00:37:18.239 Would you give them courage to come back home? 00:37:19.760 --> 00:37:25.519 Gotta pray for our friends here that are on that deciding line, they're one foot in. 00:37:25.679 --> 00:37:29.840 Would you give them the courage to take two steps and decide today? 00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:32.960 Today, you are the leader of their life. 00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:35.360 They commit their whole hearts to you. 00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:41.199 And Jesus, would you make us a church? 00:37:44.559 --> 00:37:54.400 Would you make us a people that pursues the heart of you with all that we have. 00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:57.360 In Jesus' name. 00:37:58.320 --> 00:38:00.559 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:38:00.800 --> 00:38:05.199 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:38:05.360 --> 00:38:07.440 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:13.519 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.